Continuous delivery chemical wash bottle



Dec. l2, 1950 N. F. FLOYD CONTINUOUS DELIVERY CHEMICAL WASH BOTTLE 2 sheQts-shee' 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1946 l INVENTOR: /allvliaz'iaya BY @Zi/ul v ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 12, 1950 N. F. FLOYD coNTINuoUs DELIVERY CHEMICAL WASH BOTTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1946 INVENTOR- /WIv/mii.' Floyd,

BY @al W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 12, 1950 OTTLE Norman F. Floyd, Philadelphia, Pa., assigiior to The Lal'renau Hospital, Philadelphia, Pai, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application Agi's't 22, 1946, Serial No. '692,169

1 claim. l

vThis invention relates to improvementsyin the art of continuous delivery of liquids from liquid" holding lcontainers and particularly to a con; tihuciis delivery device vfor obtaining a continuous now of liquid from a container such as a chemical wash borne.

In the removal of liquids from containers and in cases whereit is desired to make use of the stream of 4liquid being removed, there are 'occasions in which it is necessary to provide a posi tive control whereby the stream of liquid may be interrupted. For instance vin the case of the wash bottles used in scientific laboratories the ejected stream of liquid is used to wash selected surfaces of the equipment being used. The simplest form oi such a wash bottle consists of a flask to which is attached astopper adapted toreceive a pres;- sure `tube 'and a delivery tube. Delivery of the liquid is accomplished by applying pressure through blowing int-o the pressure tube. In this simple form of wash bottle the stream of` liquid stops when the blowing into the pressure tube is interrupted. However, in many instances it is 1desired. to use the stream of liquid from 'such wash bottles without the necessity of continuing to blow into the pressure tube. "In such cases a continuous now of liquidis required. Various r'n'eans have been proposed for obtaining 'such a continuous flow. Of these proposals all have car- "ried with them certain disadvantages 'which have arisen from the complications introduced in providing means for maintaining acontinuous flow which can be caused to stop at will. For instance, the devices heretofore 'suggested in the chemical wash bottle held have included the use of mate- "r'ial's which cannot withstand the action of the chemical liquids sometimes used and have also required additional holes in the vstopper Aelement,` thus placing a further limitation on the type of "stopper which must be employed. In this connection the device which the .present invention would displace requires a cumbersome 'arrangement of three tubes, including a separate vent tube, all of which pass through the stopper. r)The 'pidasen't `invention vrequires but two tubes anais muon simpler both in construction and use.

In view of the above, one object of the present invention is to provide acontinuous delivery atftachrnent for obtaining a `controlled stream of liquid from la container. v

It is a further object of the present invention to provide 4a rcontinuous delivery, attachment for a liquid-holding container whichattachment i's 'simple in construction and readily controllable manually while Vin use to interrupt the now of liquid.

(Cl. 23--292l Other objects and fields of use of the present livl vention will appear from 'the description which follows, reference being had to the accompanyf ing drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is avertical elevation partly in section; and

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical elevation, partly in section, of an alternative form of the invention.

Fig. `3 is a sectional view illustrating an alternative 'forni of connecting joint.y

Fig. 4 is a vertical elevation, partly in section, of an alternative lform of the invention.

Fig. v5 Vis a 'side view as indicated by the arrows VV' in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 lis 'a partial vertical elevation, partly in sy'ectionoi an alternative lform of the invention 'shown 'in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. l the continuous delivery vvattachment of thepresent invention is adapted to be tted to a `flask I containing a 'liquid as shown at 2. The attachment consists of a stopper 3 which may be constructed of glass, rubber, or the like, and which is adapted to t tightly into the neck 4 of the ask. The stopper 3 is provided with two holes. Associated with vrone hole is 'a pressure tube 5 having an upper branch 6 and a lower branch 7 which engages with the stopper as shown. i The lower branch of the pressure tube 5 is provided with a valve seat 8 adapted to re ceive the tapered valve element 9 which is formed at the lower end of the valve stem I0. lThe valve seat 8 and the valve element 9 are ground to fit vclosely so that when the valve element is in a posi 5. Inthe upper branch 6 of the pressure tube 5' vented in the lower branch 'I of the pressure tube the valve Stern I0 is closely fitted along the surfaces where it Aslidably engages theupper 'branch 6, and this close nt prevents the passage of lair in the upper branch 6 at all times. This is im'- por'tant in 'the building up of pressure in flask I. yAt the upper end of vthe valve stem I0 there is provided a control head I I for ease in the manual manipulation of the 'valve stem when the defvice is'in use. A delivery tube lI 2 is provided which passes kthrough the second hole provided in the stopper 3 Vand extends to the lower portion'of 'the flask l. Attached to the delivery tube by means of a exible coupling I3 is a delivery jet I which has 'a constrcted delivery tip for the more ein cient Vproduction of a 'usable stream of liquid.

Where 'it is necessary to use liquids which would attack flexible couplings of the type 'shown "at I3, the ball joint construction shownin Fig. 3 "may be employed. vIn this form Vthe delivery tip I4 terminates at the ioint end in a 'rounded 'poire Y Y l Y 3 tion 26 having a single opening 21. This rounded portion 26 engages element 28 in a liquid-tight joint but is free to rotate therein. There is thus provided a flexible joint which makes it possible to direct the stream of liquid emerging from the delivery tip I4 without restricting the flow at the joint.

The alternative form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 consists of a pressure tube I5 having an upper branch I6 and a lower branch I'I. The lower branch II is provided with a valve seat I8 which is so constructed as to receive a valve element I9 adapted to be attached to the valve stem 20. For ease of assembly the valve element I9 may be internally threaded for attachment to a threaded end portion of the valve stem 20. Valve stem extends upwardly within branches Il and I6 of pressure tube 5 and passes through the valve stem guide 2I at the top of upper branch I6 where it is tightly fitted so as to prevent the passage of air. Valve stem 23 terminates at its upper end at an anchoring point 22 located at the upper inside surface of the control cap 23 which is likewise closely tted to the contact surface of the upper branch I6 so as to prevent further the escape of air through the upper branch IIS.`v A spring 24 is provided and also a spring seat 25 to which the lower end of spring 24 is seated. The upper end of .the spring 24 engages the upper inside surface of the control cap 23 and forces it 5 upwardlyr together with the valve stern 2! and the valve element I9. Consequently the normal position of the valve element I9 is such as to prevent the escape of airy outwardly through the pressure tube I5. However, the degree of tension applied by the spring 24 is limited to a force which can be counteracted by the normal force of air under pressure applied through the pressure tube I5 by blowing, thus making it possible to blow air under pressure through pressure tube I5 and past valve element I9 thereby building up pressure in the flask I. This results in a flow of liquid in delivery tube I2 and a consequent stream which issues from the delivery tip I4. If the blowing of air is discontinued, the valve element I9 is moved automatically to a closed position leaving a positive pressure within flask I which seeks equilibrium by forcing a stream of liquid out delivery tip I4.

'I he alternative form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 consists of a cap member 3i) adapted to t over the neck 3l of a ask 32. Attached to cap member at its upper end is a delivery tube 33 terminating in a delivery tip 34. Communicating with delivery tube 33 and passing downward inside cap member 30 and ask 32 is a tube 35 terminating at the inner edge of the base of ask 32. Also attached to cap member 3D is a branched pressure tube 36 having an upper branch 3l' and a lower branch 38. Positioned within said upper and lower branches is a valve element 39 which terminates in a tapered portion 40 adapted to engage valve seat 4I which is formed in the lower branch 38. Valve element 39 terminates at its upper end in an enlarged control surface 42 after curving downwardly as shown.V In order to insure a snug it of cap member 30 at all times, a pair of projections 43 are provided at the lower portion of the neck 3| and a corresponding pair of projections 44 are provided at the upper end of the cap member 30. Rubber bands 45 are provided for engagement with projecting members 43 and 44. Likewise projecting member 46 is provided on the branched pressure tube 36 and a second projecting member 41 is provided at the upper end of valve element 39. Rubber band 48 engages projections 46 and 41 and holds valve element 39 securely in place.

The alternative form shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 except that cap member 30 has a tapered construction for engaging the neck 3| of flask 32 on its inner surface as a stopper as shown.

When it is desired to use the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 the air pressure is supplied by blowing into pressure tube 5, In order for such air to provide a pressure in ilask I it is necessary to lift valve stem I0 by means of its control head II. When this is done air under pressure is admitted into the flask I through the lower branch I, the escape of air through the upper branch being prevented by the snug t provided between the valve stem Ill and the walls of the upper branch 6. As soon as sufficient air pressure has been developed within the flask I as evidenced by a steady stream of liquid from a delivery tube I2 the valve stem I0 is lowered thus shutting off the pressure tube 5 at the valve seat 3. No further pressure need now be applied to the pressure tube 5 since the pressure now developed in flask I can equalize only by forcing additional liquid out through the delivery tube I2. The flow of liquid will thus be continuous until such time as the loss of liquid reduces the pres-,- sure in the flask I to the pressure of the outside atmosphere. This period of time will be sufficiently long for the normal purposes to which the liquid stream will be put and therefore in the present specification the term continuous is applied to such delivery and to the device itself although it is recognized that a point will ultimately be reached at which the flow of liquid will cease. Normally the desired stopping point will be prior to the stopping of the liquid stream by equalization of pressure. Where this occurs the valve stem IE) is lifted thus allowing air under pressure to escape through the pressure tube 5. This sudden equalization of pressure serves to stop immediately the flow of liquid in delivery tube I2.

In the use of the alternative form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 it is not necessary to manipulate manually the valve element I9 at the start of the operation since air may be blown through the pressure tube I5 and the lower branch I'I past the valve element I9 by overcoming the slight tension produced on valve element I9 by the spring 24. It is thus only necessary to blow through pressure tube I5 until such time as a uid stream emerges from delivery tube I2. At this point the blowing may be discontinued which will result in the immediate seating of the valve IQ in response to the action of spring 24 on the valve stem 20. This will leave a positive pressure within ask I which will act to produce the desired stream of liquid as described above. When it is desired to interrupt the flow of the stream of liquid thus produced it is only necessary to depress the control cap 23 which will result in the disengagement of valve element I9 from valve seat I8 with a consequent release of pressure through the pressure tube I5. This will have the eiect of immediately shutting olf the liquid stream emerging through delivery tube I2.y

In the use of the alternative form shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the control surface 42 is positioned above the thumb position of the user of the device. It is thus possible to disengage valve element 40 from valve seat 4I by a slight upward pressure of the thumb on control surface 42. Air under pressure is then applied by blowing into pressure tube 36. Continued pressure and therefore continued liquid flow is achieved by removing the pressure from control surface 42 thus allowing the rubber band 48 to cause valve element 40 to engage valve seat 4I. The continuous flow from delivery tip 34 may be instantly discontinued by a re-application of pressure upwardly on the control surface 42. Since the control surface 42 is positioned just above the normal thumb position, the operation as described above may be carried out entirely with one hand leaving the other hand free. This is of particular advantage where the present invention is used in connection with a chemical wash bottle.

It will be seen that the device of the present invention has the great advantage of simplicity of construction thus making it possible to use a large variety of suitable materials. For instance, in the use of corrosive liquids all of the separate elements coming in contact with the contents of the flask may be made of glass. It is also possible to dispense entirely with the use of rubber. The invention also provides a great advantage in ease and simplicity of operation particularly in the operation of the means for discontinuing the stream of liquideasily and promptly. This is of great importance in the use of this device in connection with chemical wash bottles since the operator must be free to operate the wash bottle with one hand and at the same time must have positive and quickly accessible means for discontinuing the liquid stream at will with the same hand.

While I have shown and described two preferred embodiments of the present invention it will be understood that the device as shown may be modified Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A chemical wash bottle and a iiuid delivery attachment therefor comprising a closure element having openings therein, a delivery tube extending downwardly through one of said openings and terminating near the bottom of the wash bottle, a combined pressure and pressure-exhaust tube extending through another of said openings and terminating above the lower end of said delivery tube said pressure tube having a vertical extension with an upper opening closed to the atmosphere and a laterally extending branch open to the atmosphere, a valve seat positioned in said pressure tube below the point at which said tube branches, a valve member engaging said seat having a manually operable rod extending upwardly through said vertical extension, and closure means for said vertical extension arranged to permit operation of said valve rod while maintaining the upper opening of said vertical extension substantially closed to the atmosphere.

NORMAN F. FLOYD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 605,146 Stokes June 7, 1898 '787,591 Sonnenfeld et al. Apr. 18, 1905 1,009,980 Liesure et al. Nov. 28, 1911 1,370,706 Price Mar. 8, 1921 1,651,256 Davis Nov. 29, 1927 1,973,755 Geyer July 13, 1933 1,993,001 Geyer July 13, 1933 2,091,404 Hicks Aug. 31, 1937 2,099,083 Schwab Nov. 16, 1937 2,105,957 Severson Jan. 10, 1938 2,163,555 Geyer et al June 20, 1939 2,172,575 Caulfield Sept. 12, 1939 2,182,742 Brewer Dec. 5, 1939 2,410,552 Rosen Nov. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 609,346 Germany Jan. 24, 19135 OTHER REFERENCES Phipps and Bird: Scientic Laboratory Apparatus, Catalog R. 41, pages and 892.

Fisher: Modern Laboratory Appliances, Fisher Scientic Co., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Copyright 1934, page l, item 1-005.

Gibson: A Simple Valve for Use in Laboratory Apparatus, Journal of the Soc. of Chemical Industry, vol. 58, pages 317, 318, October 1939.

Laboratory Wash Bottle, Rock Products, page 90, Nov. 1945. 

